“When rumours spread through a friendship group, things can get a little out of hand. This song was born out of that exact situation between me and a friend. It wasn’t like anything was even really happening between us but nonetheless, people spun the situation into something it wasn’t and it brought us to a simple realisation – if they’re going to be talking about it already, we may as well give it a go.”
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
“’Learning to Forget’ has a true Georgian structure, from starting quite slow, melancholy and reflective, to progressing to a heavy, distorted and powerful sound – expect the unexpected! The song itself discusses heartbreak and how you can be so eager to forget everything when a relationship ends. Even though you don’t want the memories and small reminders of that person, they still happen.” – Georgia McKiernan, Georgian
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“’lvl 5 – GHOSTWRITER’ is about the silence between the lines. It’s for the moments when you want to be honest, but the words won’t land, or won’t come at all. The song explores the longing for someone else to say it for you, to save you from choosing between truth and lie when neither feels safe. It’s the sound of hoping to be understood without having to explain. A love letter in code. A confession you wish someone else could write for you.”
New album ‘LEVELS’ is out now.
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“I don’t want to feel ashamed of needing something. Even in my most chaotic moments, I want to hold on to my right to express it.”
“This single is about passion & love, making up after disagreements and the fact that the connection is still very much felt for my person in the aftermath of an argument…sometimes even more so. These words are based on the moments of re-connecting and finding common ground again. Because that’s what it’s like when you’re walking through life with the person you love, sometimes it gets messy or irritating, but that doesn’t mean ya’ll can’t make it ‘fun’ too. So yeah, this song is very much for the lovebirds out there. Produced by Terry Hunter, a Chicago house legend, naturally we dove into a very sparkly, musical, nostalgic house sound which was so incredibly fun for me. He is an Icon and so I feel very blessed to have created such a magical record with him.”
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“This song has become the happy backdrop to my life, buoying me unexpectedly in quiet moments. I met mokina at a time when I was seeking some stability after years of living and working in unfamiliar places, but I inadvertently found a slough of new challenges that I navigated as well as I could. This song casts a generous glow over these times that were not always easy or graceful for me. I think the song can be a reminder that it’s important to be generous with ourselves when we reflect back on our learning curves.” – the real talia
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We’ve been fans of Charles Costa for some time now, and it’s wonderful to watch this accomplished UK-based music grow in popularity over recent months.
The artist’s latest offering, ‘Emilie’, is a masterclass in indie-pop. The sound is easy to connect with, yet carries an eccentricity that is really quite intriguing to experience. Speaking on the track’s inspiration, Costa explains:
“This song is a result of society’s pressure and expectations on someone and how it squeezed them into a lesser version of themselves. It’s a love story ofc but a sad one of vivid longing and disappointment. It doesn’t sound sad, maybe wistful and dreamy at points but to me it’s about spitting out pain and celebrating sadness.”
If you’re based in the UK, then you can catch the artist performing at London’s The Grace on the 12th of June – tickets can be found here. You can also explore Costa’s self-titled LP (which, impressively, was recorded in only six weeks) over on Spotify.
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
“’Flicker’ is about putting too much energy into people who don’t give it back. It’s that feeling when you realise you’ve been pouring into the wrong cups – people who wouldn’t do the same for you.”
The new project, ‘VOLUME 2’ is out now.
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We’ve got a very exciting alt-pop talent to share with you today emerging from Germany, called BOVIY.
What strikes us most about this musician is her natural flair for crafting songs that are universally enjoyable, while still maintaining a sense of uniqueness that reflects the artist’s strong personality.
New single ‘Kidz’ treats listeners to a track that is, to put it simply, a bop. It evolves as you continue listening into an anthem for the younger generations and the restlessness that they feel in today’s world.
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UK starlet Liv Cartier continues to impress us with the release of her powerful new single, ‘Golden’.
This is a song that immediately captivates a listener from the moment that you play it. It’s deeply emotive and emotionally raw, while the lyricism presents the listener with some of Cartier’s most honest and vulnerable thoughts. Anyone who’s felt insecure from being in love will most likely relate to this track.
“The whole premise of this song is no matter how much you love or how much you give, their intention will always be the same and if they’re going to leave then ultimately they will. I wrote this when I was grappling with vulnerability, expressing a fear of being forgotten by someone I loved so deeply. I think I just got to the point where I knew they had checked out, like I really knew they couldn’t stand me anymore and it was the weirdest thing. I do believe in thoughts and words being so powerful and I think that I always doubted whether I was good enough for this person and I truly believed they deserved more at the time, which explains the chorus ‘I don’t know if I will ever feel golden, would you wait around and see?’ I had these deep insecurities, which I lead me to overthink every single aspect of this relationship, I always felt like I just couldn’t get it right and I couldn’t understand why. However, I do think that this instinct of knowing I shouldn’t be sticking around should’ve been listened too so much sooner as the relationship was so toxic, I had just romanticised every single aspect of it.”
There’s no doubt in our minds that Cartier will very quickly become one of the country’s brightest newcomers, and with her previous collaboration with Apollo On The Run already racking up close to 500k streams on Spotify, we’re not the only ones who think so!
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Manchester-based Geordie artist Sweets is back with one of his most honest releases to date. ‘GREEN LIGHTS’ was inspired by a traumatising relationship that the musician faced and brings to light the way that hurt people navigate life.
The lyrics are refreshingly raw and sincere, while the song’s production showcases some of the most interesting hip hop sounds to emerge from the UK right now.
With fellow artists like Anthony Szmierek, GANS, Everyone You Know, and BBY all being fans, it’s clear to see that this talent has a bright future ahead. Sweets is currently preparing a new EP, titled ‘GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT’, which is due out soon. In the meantime, you can explore more of his work on Spotify.
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
A perfect harmony between UK garage and techno, tesh’s new single ‘APOLOGIES’ makes an immediate impact from the moment you press play.
Lifted from the artist’s ‘CYCLES + REPETITIONS’ EP (out now), this track guides the listener through a spectrum of emotions – from moments of darkness to heightened euphoria – while still sounding cohesive.
“‘APOLOGIES’ is my way of paying homage to the new wave of UKG/2-step, while showcasing some fresh production styles. I used that iconic vocal sample but gave it a darker twist. The track is kept simple, with not too much going on, as I really wanted the strong drum kit and booming bass to shine through. Emotionally, it’s a reflection of my own struggles with communication, especially in relationships. The end of the track is meant to be that moment of reflection and clarity.”
Tesh’s music has been heralded by Billboard magazine, while their songs have landed placements on flagship playlists like Spotify’s All New Dance and Amazon’s Breakthrough Electronic.
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We don’t showcase soul music as much as we’d like to, so Babé Sila’s release of ‘Found’ today is a welcome addition.
Based between London and NYC (by way of Hungary), Sila is establishing herself as one of the genre’s most exciting rising artists. Her style seamlessly weaves traditional soul and R&B into modern pop productions, resulting in songs that are nostalgic yet current. On her new single, she says:
“‘Found’ is the pure essence of summer love—an ode to the kind of happiness that takes over when you fall hard in love. With every beat, ‘Found’ radiates the euphoria of discovering not just someone special but a love that lifts, heals, and sweetens life itself.”
Sila has already received seals of approval from tastemakers like Highsnobiety, Earmilk and Equate; and with a string of recent releases all picking up traction, we think this talent might be soul’s breakout star in 2025.
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New Zealand artist Paige is back with one of our favourite pop releases of the month, and we’re so happy to be sharing it with you today.
‘twenties’ is an introspective song that reflects on the singer’s young adulthood, reminiscing and wondering how things may have been if she had just had more faith that life would turn out alright in the end.
“I wrote this song about how fast my life has moved and how I wish I spent more time enjoying my twenties. I wish I took time to look around with gratitude and see that everything is all working out well.”
The track serves as a taster for Paige’s upcoming ‘Paigesspace’ EP, which will be her fourth project to date. This hugely popular singer and songwriter has amassed more than 75 million career streams and performed alongside global names like the Jonas Brothers and Holly Humberstone.
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go4broke might be a new name to most, but this talent has been steadily building a solid fanbase online with his distinctive take on pop. Always evolving and surprising listeners, this is an artist who is unafraid to experiment.
‘remember winter’ is a gorgeous introduction to anyone who has yet to come across his work. This track feels tender and fragile in its tone but is sonically ambitious and refreshingly daring.
To create this song, go4broke simply used a piano and guitar and completed the track with some sound design from collaborators Warpstr, Cayelli, and Josh Rorstad. You can stream more tracks right here.
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Arctic Wave are the kind of outfit that create songs that really could have come out of any of the past five decades. Their new single, ‘God Ain’t Through’ blends so many genres together that it’s really become a sound of its own.
With elements of funk, rock-pop, R&B, gospel and soul, this track is sure to garner favour with a lot of listeners. It’s a song that is playful and experimental, yet still manages to sound universal and treats us to a beautiful twist as it concludes.
Praise for Arctic Wave comes from outlets like Atwood, Earmilk and Medium Magazine. Their songs have amassed more than half a million streams on Spotify and continue to grow in popularity with each month.
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Acclaimed American artist, songwriter, and producer, Jill Blutt, has unveiled a new single this week, and it’s one of our favourites to date.
‘When I Grace Yr Mantelpiece‘ is sonically inspired by the synthwave movement of the 80s and carries a dark undertone which is captivating to listen to. It’s an expertly constructed piece of pop and is sure to be one of Blutt’s biggest releases yet.
“My new single, paronymously named ‘When I Grace Yr Mantelpiece’, is an existential plea whose message is unapologetically unsubtle: please, please make me famous or I’ll die.”
Blutt’s work has found support through outlets like Spotify’s hugely popular Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds Indie. A new EP is on the way, but until then you can stream more of Blutt’s music right here.
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For anyone who’s going through a rough break-up right now, fear not, because American alt-pop artist Noelle Sucks has the perfect song for you to offload your emotions onto.
‘Little 2 Close 2 the Sun’ captures the rawness that we might experience from having a broken heart. The confusing thoughts and the self-doubt that creeps into our heads, and how it can lock our minds in a way that stops us from trying to move on.
“I wrote this song from post-heartbreak purgatory. It’s my messy word vomit, the back-and-forth guilt and confusion that I felt trying to move on from my longest relationship. I couldn’t go back, but forward was also really weird. I was in complete heartbreak limbo, not letting anyone in or out.”
Noelle currently commands almost 5k monthly listeners on Spotify, which is pretty impressive considering the short space of time that this artist has been releasing music. You can explore more of her songs right here.
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TRACK OF THE WEEK
British hip hop has a new name to champion, and that is Siah. This talent has caught our interest with the release of his new single, ‘That’s Why’.
The song focuses on the tenacity that young people need in order to get through the world in this day and age. The lyrics address a host of issues – from dating struggles to family dramas to overcoming self-doubt.
“It’s a track reflecting on self-reliance, overcoming adversity, and achieving success independently.”
In a sign of his emergence, Siah has already accumulated more than 386k streams on Spotify alone, while also picking up praise from outlets as noted as Apple Music’s The Dotty Show.
One of the UK’s most promising alt-pop talents returns today with a powerful new single that really deserves to be heard.
‘Serenity’, by acclaimed Liverpudlian musician Tonia, touches on powerful and deeply personal themes, like trust and regret. Speaking on her beautifully introspective song, she explains it as:
“A song about trying to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved – a reflection on misplaced responsibility and the emotional weight we carry when others refuse to carry their own.’’
The track is lifted from Tonia’s forthcoming ‘The songs we wrote in Norfolk’ project, which is scheduled for release soon. This isn’t the first time that we’ve featured this ever-emerging starlet, and we’re quite sure it won’t be the last time either. One to watch!
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